Pneumatically operated fastener device

ABSTRACT

In the magazine of a pneumatically operated fastener driving device, to accelerate the loading of the magazine with fasteners the bolt for retaining the end plate of the magazine is located and constructed to be actuated by the operator&#39;&#39;s finger which actuates the trigger of the device. The end plate of the magazine may be moved by compressed air into position for loading fasteners.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Dieter Volkmann Leinstrasse 49, 3057 Neustadt-am Rubenberge; Juergen Korth, Birkenweg 7, 3001 Berenbostel, Germany [21] Appl. No. 743,185

[22] Filed July 8, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [32] Priority July 7, 1968 [33] Germany [54] PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED FASTENER DEVICE 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl..,.. [51] Int. Cl

[50] Field ofSearch 227/1 12, 120,125, 126,127,128

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,491,931 l/1970 Sales 227/127 2,617,096 11/1952 Boroughs 227/125UX 2,714,208 8/1955 Jenny 227/128 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney Francis D. Thomas, Jr.

ABSTRACT: In the magazine of a pneumatically operated fastener driving device, to accelerate the loading of the magazine with fasteners the bolt for retaining the end plate of the magazine is located and constructed to be actuated by theoperator's finger which actuates the trigger of the device. The end plate of the magazine may be moved by compressed air into position for loading fasteners.

IPNEIJMATHQALILY OPERATED FASTENER DEVICE DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The invention refers to a pneumatically operated device for driving in fastening means such as staples, pins, nails and the like and, in particular, to a portable hand held'device having a magazine which is provided for the storage of the fastening means and is closed by a slidable" plate held in shooting position by a bolt. l

The pneumatically operated devices use fastening means, in particular'staples, so rapidly that the magazine must be reloaded with staplesfat short intervals. The time spent reloading interrupts the operation and reduces the operational-efficiency of the device.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a magazine with means permitting an accelerated opening of the end plate in order to expose the chamber of the magazine.

It isafurther object of the present invention to provide a magazine which can be opened by compressed air.

These and other objects and advantages of the inventio will be described in detail in the following description and illustrated with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional and, partially, an elevational view of a pneumatically driven, hand-held device to drive in staples;

FIG. 2 is a cross section at level IlIl of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an end plate of the magazine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on an increased scale.

According to the invention, the magazine of a pneumatically operated device to drive in fastening means is substantially characterized by the feature that the bolt holding the end plate of the magazine in shooting position may be released by a finger lever located closely adjacent and within finger reach of the trigger for the compressed air supply valve. This permits the operator to release the bolt for the end plate with the same finger with which he operates the trigger. It follows that the magazine may be opened with only one hand so that it is not necessary to release the device from the hand in order to open the magazine and to refill the device with fastening means. Consequently, the invention saves the operator a substantial amount of time and considerably accelerates the loading operation.

In order to still further accelerate the loading operation after the bolt has been released, it is possible to employ compressed air to open the magazine. This result may be achieved by a pneumatic mechanism or device comprising a cylinder and a piston driven by compressed air to move the end plate of I the magazine. It will be found convenient to accommodate the cylinder adjacent a cavity of the housing designed to form a compressed air storage chamber and connected with the latter by a passage. The cylinder may extend beyond the handle or may extend into the handle of the housing. This permits the designer to choose between the possibilities of either extending the travel of the piston or achieving a reduction of the overall length of the device.

Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1, the hand-held device has a body l, the details of which are of no importance to the present invention. The device is provided with a conventional connecting piece 2 for the supply of compressed air. In the bottom of the device is provided a staple magazine 3(The bottom of the magazine is developed to form an end plate 4 which, to open the magazine 3, slides towards the rear or to the right as is shown by the arrow 4A in FIG. I. In its shooting position, the staple magazine 3 is locked by a retainer means in the form of a bolt 5. The lower end of the bolt 5 tapers into a wedge and engages alocking recess 7 in the end plate 4.

With respect to the head 7A'of the body 1, containing the conventional working cylinder and staple drive track, the bolt 5 is arranged in inclined position and, due to its tapered end 6, may yield in case of jams so that the end plate 4 of the magazine 3 slides towards the rear thus protecting the head from damage. The bolt 5, extends upward to form a trip lever 8 located directly below and in closely spaced generally parallel relation with the trigger 9 controlling the supply of "compressed air to the working cylinder of the device. With respect to the trip lever 8, the trigger 9 projects to some extent beyond the trip lever 8 so that a finger of the hand gripping the handle part of the body l which operates the trigger 9 may with a similar motion quite easily trip lever 3. When, in the course of work, the last staple in the magazine has been used, the design of the device permits just one finger, e.g. the index finger of the operator, to release the trigger 9 and to operate the trip lever 8 without; any necessity of a change of grip. By raising the trip lever 8 against the force of a compression spring 16 acting on it, the bolt is released from the locking recess 7. The end plate 4 slides towards the rear under the tension of a retained force acting on it, e.g. the conventional feeding spring 9A for the staples, so that the magazine is ready to receive a fresh staple strip. 5 u

In order to thrust the end plate 4 rapidly and completely into its opened position, a secondary pneumatic device coinprising a piston 11 and a cylinder 12 is provided which is connected with a cavity of the body 1 developed to form a compressed air chamber 10. The piston rod 13 of the secondary device acts on a vertical extension 14 at the rear end of the end plate 4. By a passage 15, compressed air may flow to the cylinder 12 from the compressed air chamber 10. It follows that the vertical extension 14 is biased to move rearward by the pressure of the compressed air from the compressed air chamber 10 which acts on the piston 11.

When the trip lever 8 is lifted, the end plate is released and, by the action of the secondary device under pressure of the compressed air, slides rearwards to the loading position thus offering access to the magazine 3 in which a staple strip is then introduced in the usual manner. The staple magazine 3 is returned to the shooting or the operating position bypushing forward the end plate 4 with its vertical extension 14 resting against the piston rod 13 until, under the action of the compression spring 16, the bolt 5 engages again in the locking recess 7. The device is then ready to continue operation.

It follows that the magazine is opened and refilled rapidly so that the operation of the fastener device is only briefly interrupted.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the staple magazine 3 which, in part, is represented in cross section. The trip lever 8 exposed to the action of the compression spring 16 is joined to the bolt 5 which has two lateral elements, one on each side of the staple magazine. FIG. 2 shows the bolt 5 in closed position in which both of its lateral elements are engaged in the locking recess 7 of the end plate 4.

FIG. 3 shows part of the end plate 4 with the locking recess 7.

FIG. 4 shows a secondary device in which the cylinder 12 projects into the compressed air chamber 10 and has an extension 17. This construction extends the course of travel of the piston ill with its piston rod 113 or may also be utilized to reduce the length of the projecting part of the cylinder 112 and,

- consequently, the overall length of the fastener device. In the latter case the course of travel of the piston ll remains the same.

Although the invention has been described in connection with certain particular embodiments and structures, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments and structures except insofar as they are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

I. In a hand-held, pneumatically operated fastener driving device having a body including a handle portion adapted to be gripped by the operator, the improvement comprising the combination of a trigger mounted on said body adjacent said handle portion and controlling the supply of compressed air for operating the device, a fastener magazine connected to said body, a slidable closure plate on said magazine, retainer means for releasably holding said closure plate in closed position, said retainer means comprising a bolt extending into said magazine and having a tapered end portion engageable in a locking recess in said ciosure plate, and means normally urg ing said bolt into engagement in said recess, and a fingeroperated trip member connected to said retainer means for effecting release of the latter, said trip member being disposed in a position closely adjacent said trigger such that the same finger of the operator can actuate both said trigger and said trip member without a change of grip on said handle portion.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that the body of said device includes a head portion containing the working cylinder of the device, said magazine extending outwardly from said head portion, and said bolt being disposed in an inclined position with respect to said head portion to facilitate release of said tapered end portion from said locking recess in case of jams.

3. In a hand-held, pneumatically operated fastener driving device having a body including a compressed air chamber, the improvement comprising the combination of a fastener magazine connected to said body, a slidable closure plate on said magazine, releasable retainer means for releasabiy holding said closure plate in closed position, and pneumatic means operable by the compressed air in said chamber for moving said closure plate to open position upon release of said retainer means.

4. The device of claim 3 further characterized in that said body also includes a handle portion adapted to be gripped by the operator, a trigger is mounted on said body adjacent said handle portion for controlling the operation of the device, and a finger-operated trip member is connected to said retainer means for effecting release of the latter, said trip member being disposed in a position closely adjacent said trigger such that the same finger of the operator can actuate both said trigger and said trip memberwithout a change of grip on said handle portion.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said pneumatic means comprises a cylinder in communication with said chamber, a piston in said cylinder, and a piston rod operatively connected to said closure plate.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said cylinder projects into said chamber. 

1. In a hand-held, pneumatically operated fastener driving device having a body including a handle portion adapted to be gripped by the operator, the improvement comprising the combination of a trigger mounted on said body adjacent said handle portion and controlling the supply of compressed air for operating the device, a fastener magazine connected to said body, a slidable closure plate on said magazine, retainer means for releasably holding said closure plate in closed position, said retainer means comprising a bolt extending into said magazine and having a tapered end portion engageable in a locking recess in said closure plate, and means normally urging said bolt into engagement in said recess, and a finger-operated trip member connected to said retainer means for effecting release of the latter, said trip member being disposed in a position closely adjacent said trigger such that the same finger of the operator can actuate both said trigger and said trip member without a change of grip on said handle portion.
 2. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that the body of said device includes a head portion containing the working cylinder of the device, said magazine extending outwardly from said head portion, and said bolt being disposed in an inclined position with respect to said head portion to facilitate release of said tapered end portion from said locking recess in case of jams.
 3. In a hand-held, pneumatically operated fastener driving device having a body including a compressed air chamber, the improvement comprising the combination of a fastener magazine connected to said body, a slidable closure plate on said magazine, releasable retainer means for releasably holding said closure plate in closed position, and pneumatic means operable by the compressed air in said chamber for moving said closure plate to open position upon release of said retainer means.
 4. The device of claim 3 further characterized in that said body also includes a handle portion adapted to be gripped by the operator, a trigger is mounted on said body adjacent said handle portion for controlling the operation of the device, and a finger-operated trip member is connected to said retainer means for effecting release of the latter, said trip member being disposed in a position closely adjacent said trigger such that the same finger of the operator can actuate both said trigger and said trip member without a change of grip on said handle portion.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein said pneumatic means comprises a cylinder in communication with said chamber, a piston in said cylinder, and a piston rod operatively connected to said closure plate.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said cylinder projects into said chamber. 